Doctors slam paediatric body’s promotion of sugary drink
Hyderabad: Health experts criticised the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) for featuring a stall at its recently-held Pedicon conference, promoting ORSL a sugary energy drink often marketed as an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
This decision has reignited debates over misleading health practices, particularly the marketing of high-sugar drinks as medical solutions for dehydration.
Health experts, including Hyderabad-based paediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, have condemned the inclusion of ORSL at the conference. “The presence of an ORSL stall at an event hosted by IAP is deeply troubling. These drinks, sold in pharmacies, have contributed to worsening diarrhoea and complications in millions of children,” she said.
Dr Sivaranjani noted that ORSL contains up to five teaspoons of sugar per 200 ml — ten times the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended sugar level for ORS formulations.
Unlike the scientifically developed WHO-recommended ORS, which is effective in managing dehydration during diarrhoea, drinks like ORSL fail to meet these standards and can exacerbate health issues. Despite a small disclaimer on the packaging stating, “This is not an ORS,” health advocates argue that the product’s marketing remains misleading.
The issue gained momentum in April 2022 when the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) barred companies from using “ORS” on such products. However, the order was relaxed within months, allowing these drinks to be marketed as energy drinks instead.
“These regulatory flip-flops show a lack of commitment to public health,” said a public health expert Dr Sandhya Medala.
Dr Sivaranjani has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address the unethical marketing of such drinks. She criticised the influence of large corporations like Johnson & Johnson, which acquired ORSL from Jagdale, for maintaining the product’s dominance in pharmacies. “Celebrity endorsements further mislead parents into believing these drinks are effective solutions for dehydration,” she added.
The controversy has created the need for stronger regulatory measures and consumer awareness. Experts stress that disclaimers alone are insufficient to counteract years of misleading advertising.
“Parents must be educated about the dangers of these products, and stricter enforcement of WHO-recommended standards is essential to protect children,” said Burugula Manish Yadav, another health advocate and senior professor at a private medical college in the city.
